Rent the Runway

by Kat Pohlman

I’ve never considered myself a fashionable person. But it was my birthday, my 30th birthday. A farewell to the excuse of being in my twenties when making poor decisions or acting childish. So I thought.

My partner planned a getaway to Charleston for the big day, and I wanted to feel more special, mature, or what some may refer to as more “fashionable” than usual.

With the word “sustainability” in my job title, I was well aware of the social and environmental impacts of the clothing industry and the new buzz words “fast fashion.” I’ve been thrift shopping since I was 18, not primarily because of the global impacts, but because I am on a budget and could give a rat’s behind if it is last year’s look.

It was my hairstylist who referred me to Rent the Runway. She uses this online clothing rental service for big events. They have apparel for all occasions, and you can rent for a few days for a fraction of the cost of buying.

This is where things get interesting. I needed a 29-year-old dress and a 30-year-old dress. I wanted to play the part of both saying goodbye to my 20s and welcoming my adulthood properly. Ordering clothes online, in general, makes me nervous. But I know what styles look best on me and this particular website allows you to order two sizes to ensure that at least one might fit. I searched for a few days and asked the opinion of anyone who would listen. Finally, I settled on a nice floral cotton dress that looked like something a modern-day Scarlett O’Hara would wear, for my last day of 29 (around $30), and an upscale ($800 retail, $70 rental) dress for my first dinner in the era of checking a new age box on surveys.

The day before my order was to arrive, I received an email from Rent the Runway apologizing that my 29-year-old dress had come back either smelly or ripped, but unwearable. They said they would pick out a similar style dress for the same price, a bold move in my opinion. Opening my dress bag was like a built-in birthday surprise, and when I pulled out the 100% sequin-covered mini-dress that felt like it weighed 50 pounds, I couldn’t have been more confused by my excitement. I never would have chosen that dress, but I rocked it and it gave me the feeling I was looking for, special and fashionable.

However, it was the next night that was even more amusing. I bestowed the responsibility to my best friend from high school and my boyfriend to come up with a plan for the evening. I should have known better. They are incredible, loving humans with one tragic flaw they share… communication. So there I sat in my $800 dress as the waitress put a sombrero on my head at a delicious, but casual Mexican restaurant.

My takeaways: If you know the cuts that fit you best, are adaptable, and don’t mind being the best-dressed person in the room, renting clothes for special occasions (or in general) is a great option to save your wallet and our precious Mother Earth. Oh, and I’ll never stop being childish, and you shouldn’t either.

Rent the Runway is a subscription fashion service that offers rental of unlimited women’s designer styles for everyday and special occasion wear. www.renttherunway.com.

Kat Pohlman: “As the Chief Sustainability Officer at UNCW, I do my best to ‘walk the walk.’ The majority of my life revolves around my job. I hope this ‘experiment’ inspires others to take extra steps to ensure a future that provides the same or more opportunities as today!”

Fashion Resources

Fashion for Good is a global organization involved in moving sustainable fashion forward. Their “Innovation Platform” is used to connect those working on sustainable innovation with brands, retailers and funders to bring new ideas and technologies “from niche to norm.” Learn more about their work around the world at fashionforgood.com.

photo by JP: Kat Pohlman celebrates her first day of being 30 with an elegant sequined dress from Rent the Runway.